RESUMEN
The use of immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)has increased treatment options for patients who may not be candidates for traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy. Recent studies have resulted in the approval of immunotherapy in the first and second line setting for recurrent/metastatic disease. Various combinations of immunotherapy with targeted therapies, monoclonal antibodies, or human papilloma virus vaccines are also being studied in recurrent/metastatic disease. Currently, programmed death-ligand 1 status is the main marker utilized to assess potential response to immunotherapy. Studies are focused on identifying additional markers, which may help better predict response to immunotherapy for HNSCC patients.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Inmunoterapia , Humanos , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/terapia , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/terapia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunologíaRESUMEN
The interplay between immune components and the epithelium plays a crucial role in the development and progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Natural killer (NK) cells, one of the main tumor-killing immune cell populations, have received increasing attention in HNSCC immunotherapy. In this review, we explore the mechanism underlying the interplay between NK cells and HNSCC. A series of immune evasion strategies utilized by cancer cells restrict HNSCC infiltration of NK cells. Overcoming these limitations can fully exploit the antineoplastic potential of NK cells. We also investigated the tumor-killing efficacy of NK cell-based immunotherapies, immunotherapeutic strategies, and new results from clinical trials. Notably, cetuximab, the most essential component of NK cell-based immunotherapy, inhibits the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway and activates the immune system in conjunction with NK cells, inducing innate effector functions and improving patient prognosis. In addition, we compiled information on other areas for the improvement of patient prognosis using anti-EGFR receptor-based monoclonal antibody drugs and the underlying mechanisms and prognoses of new immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of HNSCC.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Inmunoterapia , Células Asesinas Naturales , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello , Humanos , Células Asesinas Naturales/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/terapia , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/terapia , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Animales , Receptores ErbB/antagonistas & inhibidores , Receptores ErbB/inmunología , Escape del Tumor/efectos de los fármacos , Antineoplásicos Inmunológicos/uso terapéutico , Antineoplásicos Inmunológicos/farmacología , Transducción de Señal , Cetuximab/uso terapéutico , Cetuximab/farmacologíaRESUMEN
Background: Most head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients are diagnosed at an advanced local stage. While immunotherapy has improved survival rates, only a minority of patients respond durably to targeted immunotherapies, posing substantial clinical challenges. We investigated the heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment in HNSCC cohorts before and after immunotherapy by analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data and bulk RNA sequencing datasets retrieved from public databases. Methods: We constructed a single-cell transcriptome landscape of HNSCC patients before and after immunotherapy and analyzed the cellular composition, developmental trajectories, gene regulatory networks, and communication patterns of different cell type subpopulations. Additionally, we assessed the expression levels of relevant indicators in HNSCC cells via western blot, ELISA, and fluorescent probe techniques. Results: At the single-cell level, we identified a subpopulation of TP63+ SLC7A5+ HNSCC that exhibited a ferroptosis-resistant phenotype. This subpopulation suppresses ferroptosis in malignant cells through the transcriptional upregulation of SLC7A5 mediated by high TP63 expression, thereby promoting tumor growth and resistance to immunotherapy. The experimental results demonstrated that the overexpression of TP63 upregulated the expression of SLC7A5 and suppressed the concentrations of Fe2+ and ROS in HNSCC cells. By integrating bulk transcriptome data, we developed a clinical scoring model based on TP63 and SLC7A5, which are closely associated with tumor stage, revealing the significant prognostic efficacy of the TP63+ SLC7A5+ HNSCC-mediated ferroptosis mechanism in HNSCC patients. Conclusion: Our research elucidates the TME in HNSCC before and after immunotherapy, revealing a novel mechanism by which TP63+ SLC7A5+ HNSCC inhibits ferroptosis and enhances tumor resistance via TP63-induced SLC7A5 upregulation. These insights lay the foundation for the development of more effective treatments for HNSCC.
Asunto(s)
Ferroptosis , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello , Humanos , Ferroptosis/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proteínas Supresoras de Tumor/genética , Proteínas Supresoras de Tumor/metabolismo , Factores de Transcripción/genética , Factores de Transcripción/metabolismo , Transportador de Aminoácidos Neutros Grandes 1/genética , Transportador de Aminoácidos Neutros Grandes 1/metabolismo , Microambiente Tumoral/genética , Animales , Ratones , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Análisis de la Célula IndividualRESUMEN
Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated promising therapeutic outcomes in recurrent/metastatic (R/M) Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), prompting numerous clinical trials to investigate the safety and efficacy of this approach in neoadjuvant therapy. This systematic review aims to consolidate and analyze the findings from various clinical trials combining neoadjuvant immunotherapy for HNSCC, with the goal of identifying the most effective neoadjuvant immunotherapy regimen. Methods: The system conducted searches across electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and Web of science from their inception to July 1, 2024. The primary focus was on evaluating efficacy (particularly pathological complete response (pCR), major pathological response (MPR), and overall response rate (ORR)) and safety (primarily assessed by grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse reactions). Results: A total of 1943 patients from 32 studies were analyzed. Combining neoadjuvant immunotherapy with chemotherapy or radiotherapy demonstrated superiority over neoadjuvant immunotherapy alone in terms of the MPR rate, while showing no statistically significant difference in the pCR rate. Furthermore, the combination of neoadjuvant immunotherapy with chemotherapy or radiotherapy exhibited a lower CR rate compared to neoadjuvant immunotherapy with radiotherapy alone, but a higher PR rate and SD rate. Apart from the neoadjuvant immunotherapy group in isolation, there were no statistically significant differences in grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) among the other three combination therapy groups. Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that patients with locally advanced HNSCC might benefit from neoadjuvant immunotherapy, particularly when used in conjunction with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Nonetheless, additional data is required to definitively confirm its efficacy. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=553753, identifier CRD42024553753.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Inmunoterapia , Terapia Neoadyuvante , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello , Humanos , Terapia Neoadyuvante/métodos , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/terapia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Inmunoterapia/efectos adversos , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/terapia , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Resultado del Tratamiento , Terapia Combinada , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/efectos adversos , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Recent randomized phase III trials have demonstrated the efficacy of anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in treating patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (RMHNSCC). However, a large proportion of such patients still have poor response. This study aimed to identify biomarkers for predicting anti-PD-1 ICI treatment outcomes . METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 144 patients with RMHNSCC who received anti-PD-1 ICIs after progression to platinum-based chemotherapy between January 2017 and December 2022 at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Data on clinicopathological parameters, albumin levels, calcium levels, and other pretreatment peripheral blood biomarkers, including total lymphocyte count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were collected and correlated with the treatment outcome of anti-PD-1 ICIs. RESULTS: Low tumor proportion score (TPS), low combined positive score (CPS), NLR ≥ 5, PLR ≥ 300, hypercalcemia, hypoalbuminemia, and PNI < 45 were significantly correlated with poor response of ICIs. The overall response rates were 25% and 3% in patients with calcium < 10 mg/dL and calcium ≥ 10 mg/dL, respectively (P = 0.007). The overall response rates were 6% and 33% in patients with albumin < 4 g/dL and albumin ≥ 4 g/dL, respectively (P < 0.001). Univariate survival analysis showed that low TPS, low CPS, NLR ≥ 5,, hypercalcemia, hypoalbuminemia, and PNI < 45 were significantly associated with worse progression-free survival (PFS) and inferior overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis revealed that calcium ≥ 10 mg/dL and albumin < 4 g/dL were independent poor prognosticators for worse PFS and inferior OS. The two-year OS rates were 26% and 9% in patients with calcium < 10 mg/dL and ≥ 10 mg/dL, respectively (P < 0.001). The two-year OS rates were 10% and 33% in patients with albumin < 4 g/dL and ≥ 4 g/dL, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hypercalcemia and hypoalbuminemia can potentially predict poor treatment outcomes of anti-PD-1 ICIs in patients with RMHNSCC. Blood calcium and albumin levels may be helpful in individualizing treatment strategies for patients with RMHNSCC.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Hipercalcemia , Hipoalbuminemia , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Estudios Retrospectivos , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/uso terapéutico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/sangre , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/sangre , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/complicaciones , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Anciano , Hipercalcemia/tratamiento farmacológico , Hipercalcemia/sangre , Hipercalcemia/etiología , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/tratamiento farmacológico , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/patología , Pronóstico , Tasa de Supervivencia , Hipoalbuminemia/complicaciones , Hipoalbuminemia/etiología , Adulto , Estudios de Seguimiento , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Receptor de Muerte Celular Programada 1/antagonistas & inhibidores , Biomarcadores de Tumor/sangreRESUMEN
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are approved for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) but the response rate is only 13-18%. For an effective antitumor immune response, trafficking of immune cells to the tumor microenvironment (TME) is essential. We aimed to better understand immune cell migration as well as the involved chemokines in HNSCC. A transwell assay was used to study immune cell migration toward TME-conditioned medium. While T cell migration was not observed, conventional dendritic cell (cDC) migration was induced by TME-conditioned media. cDC migration correlated with various proteins in the TME secretome. CCL8, CXCL5, CCL13 and CCL7 were tested in validation experiments and addition of these chemokines induced cDC migration. Using single cell RNA-sequencing, we observed expression of CCL8, CXCL5, CCL13 and CCL7 in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Depleting fibroblasts led to reduced cDC migration. Thus CAFs, while often seen as suppressors of antitumor immunity, play a role in attracting cDCs toward the head and neck cancer TME, which might be crucial for effective antitumor immunity and response to therapies. Indeed, we found RNA expression signatures of the indicated chemokines, cDC and CAF subpopulations, to be significantly higher in baseline tumor specimen of patients with a major pathological response to pre-surgical anti-PD-1 treatment compared to non-responding patients.
Asunto(s)
Movimiento Celular , Células Dendríticas , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Microambiente Tumoral , Humanos , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/metabolismo , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología , Células Dendríticas/inmunología , Células Dendríticas/metabolismo , Secretoma/metabolismo , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/metabolismo , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Fibroblastos Asociados al Cáncer/metabolismo , Fibroblastos Asociados al Cáncer/inmunología , Quimiocinas/metabolismoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Necroptosis is a caspase-independent regulated necrotic cell death modality that elicits strong adaptive immune responses, and has the potential to activate antitumor immunity. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have critical effects on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which are closely associated with the prognosis and immune regulation of OSCC patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify a novel necroptosis-related lncRNAs signature to predict the prognosis and immune response of OSCC patients and provide patients with anti-tumor drug selection through bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiments. METHODS: A series of analyses, including differential lncRNA screening, survival analysis, Cox regression analysis, ROC analysis, nomogram prediction, enrichment analysis, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, drug sensitivity analysis, and consensus cluster analysis, were performed to determine and validate the prognostic value of necroptosis-associated lncRNAs signature in OSCC. And real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to determine the expression levels of these lncRNAs. RESULTS: This signature including 5 lncRNAs (AC099850.3, StarD4-AS1, AC011978.1, LINC01503, CDKN2A-DT) in OSCC associated with necroptosis were established and verified by bioinformatics. Further, ROC, K-M, univariate/multivariate Cox regression, and nomogram analysis were used to evaluate the model's features for OSCC prognosis. Using multiple bioinformatics techniques, the levels of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, immune checkpoints and semi-inhibitory concentrations showed significant differences across risk subtypes. By consensus cluster analysis, there were significant differences between clusters in survival, immune checkpoint expression, clinicopathological correlation, and tumor immunity. RT-qPCR showed that AC099850.3, AC011978.1, LINC01503 were up-regulated, STARD4-AS1 and CDKN2A-DT were down-regulated in OSCC cell lines compared with human normal oral keratinoid cell line. CONCLUSION: We established 5-NRLs markers, which is useful for assessing OSCC immune response and prognosis, recommending personalized antitumor drugs. The expression level of 5-NRLs in OSCC was identified in vitro, and the results preliminarily verified this model. And this study would generate new insights for future experimental research.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de la Boca , Necroptosis , ARN Largo no Codificante , Humanos , ARN Largo no Codificante/genética , Pronóstico , Neoplasias de la Boca/genética , Neoplasias de la Boca/patología , Neoplasias de la Boca/inmunología , Necroptosis/genética , Necroptosis/inmunología , Biomarcadores de Tumor/genética , Femenino , Masculino , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/patología , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/mortalidad , Persona de Mediana Edad , Biología Computacional/métodosRESUMEN
Cuproptosis, a copper-dependent programmed cell death process, holds promise for controlling cell death in tumor cells. Autophagy, a fundamental cellular process, has been linked to various aspects of cancer, such as proliferation, migration, and drug resistance. This research is centered on the investigation of autophagy- and cuproptosis-related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and the establishment of a prognostic model for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. RNA sequencing data from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas database identified cuproptosis-related lncRNAs via Pearson analysis. Patients were divided into training and testing sets. A prognostic model developed in the training set using univariate-least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) and multivariate Cox regression was tested for accuracy. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed high-risk patients had poorer outcomes. Cox regression confirmed the model's risk score as an independent prognostic indicator, with receiver operating characteristic and decision curve analyses validating its predictive accuracy. Thirteen lncRNAs associated with autophagy and cuproptosis were identified through bioinformatics analysis. Lasso regression narrowed this to 3 significant prognostic lncRNAs. Based on median risk scores, patients were classified into high-risk and low-risk groups. Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed significant differences between these groups (Pâ <â .01). Through a set of bioinformatics analyses, we identified 13 autophagy- and cuproptosis-related lncRNAs. By Lasso regression, 3 prognostic-related lncRNAs were further selected. We also investigated these 3 lncRNAs in relation to clinicopathologic features. The principal component analysis visually showed differences between the high-risk and low-risk groups.
Asunto(s)
Autofagia , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , ARN Largo no Codificante , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello , ARN Largo no Codificante/genética , Humanos , Autofagia/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/mortalidad , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/mortalidad , Pronóstico , Estimación de Kaplan-MeierRESUMEN
In this study, we explore the possibility of inferring characteristics of the tumor immune microenvironment from the blood. Specifically, we investigate two datasets of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with matched single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and tumor tissues. Our analysis shows that the immune cell fractions and gene expression profiles of various immune cells within the tumor microenvironment can be inferred from the matched PBMC scRNA-seq data. We find that the established exhausted T-cell signature can be predicted from the blood and serve as a valuable prognostic blood biomarker of immunotherapy response. Additionally, our study reveals that the inferred ratio between tumor memory B- and regulatory T-cell fractions is predictive of immunotherapy response and is superior to the well-established cytolytic and exhausted T-cell signatures. These results highlight the promising potential of PBMC scRNA-seq in cancer immunotherapy and warrant, and will hopefully facilitate, further investigations on a larger scale. The code for predicting tumor immune microenvironment from PBMC scRNA-seq, TIMEP, is provided, offering other researchers the opportunity to investigate its prospective applications in various other indications. SIGNIFICANCE: Our work offers a new and promising paradigm in liquid biopsies to unlock the power of blood single-cell transcriptomics in cancer immunotherapy.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Análisis de la Célula Individual , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello , Transcriptoma , Microambiente Tumoral , Humanos , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología , Microambiente Tumoral/genética , Análisis de la Célula Individual/métodos , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/sangre , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/sangre , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Leucocitos Mononucleares/inmunología , Leucocitos Mononucleares/metabolismo , Biomarcadores de Tumor/sangre , Biomarcadores de Tumor/genética , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Pronóstico , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica/métodos , MasculinoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common malignancy that often develops unnoticed. Typically, these tumors are identified at advanced stages, resulting in a relatively low chance of successful treatment. Anoikis serves as a natural defense against the spread of tumor cells, meaning circumventing anoikis can effectively inhibit tumor metastasis. Nonetheless, studies focusing on anoikis in the context of HNSCC remain scarce. METHODS: Anoikis-related genes (ARGs) were identified by using the GeneCards and Harmonizome databases. Expression data of these genes and relevant clinical features were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. A LASSO regression and a prognostic risk score model were developed to determine their prognostic significance. The analysis included the use of the CIBERSORT algorithm to quantify immune and stromal cell presence. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo, we confirmed the expression and functional roles of proteins and mRNA of genes independently predictive of prognosis. RESULTS: The study identified eight genes linked to prognosis (ANXA5, BAK1, CDKN2A, PPARG, CCR7, MAPK11, CRYAB, CRYBA1) and developed a prognostic model that effectively forecasts the survival outcomes for patients with HNSCC. A higher survival likelihood is associated with lower risk scores. In addition, a significant relationship was found between immune and risk score, and ANXA5 deletion promoted the killing of HNSCC cells by activated CD8+ T cells. During the screening process, 65 different chemotherapeutic drugs were found to have significant differences in IC50 values when comparing high- and low-risk categories. ANXA5 emerged as a gene with independent prognostic significance, exhibiting notably elevated protein and mRNA levels in HNSCC tissue compared to non-tumorous tissue. The suppression of ANXA5 gene activity resulted in a substantial decrease in both the growth and mobility of HNSCC cells. Animal model experiments demonstrated that inhibiting ANXA5 suppressed HNSCC growth and migration in vivo. CONCLUSION: Through bioinformatics, a prognostic risk model of high precision was developed, offering valuable insights into the survival rates and immune responses in patients with HNSCC. ANXA5 is highlighted as a significant prognostic factor among the identified genes, indicating its promise as a potential therapeutic target for those with HNSCC.
Asunto(s)
Movimiento Celular , Proliferación Celular , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello , Humanos , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Pronóstico , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Proliferación Celular/genética , Ratones , Animales , Línea Celular Tumoral , Movimiento Celular/genética , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Anoicis/genética , Biomarcadores de Tumor/genética , Masculino , FemeninoRESUMEN
Macrophages played an important role in the progression and treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We employed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify macrophage-related genes (MRGs) and classify patients with HNSCC into two distinct subtypes. A macrophage-related risk signature (MRS) model, comprising nine genes: IGF2BP2, PPP1R14C, SLC7A5, KRT9, RAC2, NTN4, CTLA4, APOC1, and CYP27A1, was formulated by integrating 101 machine learning algorithm combinations. We observed lower overall survival (OS) in the high-risk group and the high-risk group showed elevated expression levels in most of the immune checkpoint and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes, suggesting a strong immune evasion capacity. Correspondingly, TIDE score positively correlated with risk score, implying that high-risk tumors may resist immunotherapy more effectively. At the single-cell level, we noted macrophages in the tumor microenvironment (TME) predominantly stalled in the G2/M phase, potentially hindering epithelial-mesenchymal transition and playing a crucial role in the inhibition of tumor progression. Finally, the proliferation and migration abilities of HNSCC cells significantly decreased after the expression of IGF2BP2 and SLC7A5 reduced. It also decreased migration ability of macrophages and facilitated their polarization towards the M1 direction. Our study constructed a novel MRS for HNSCC, which could serve as an indicator for predicting the prognosis, immune infiltration and immunotherapy for HNSCC patients.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Inmunoterapia , Aprendizaje Automático , Macrófagos , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello , Microambiente Tumoral , Humanos , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/terapia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Pronóstico , Macrófagos/inmunología , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología , Microambiente Tumoral/genética , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/terapia , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Biomarcadores de Tumor/genética , Masculino , Línea Celular TumoralRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) typically present with a complex anatomical distribution, often accompanied by insidious symptoms. This combination contributes to its high incidence and poor prognosis. It is now understood that the immune features of cellular components within the tumor ecosystem and their complex interactions are critical factors influencing both tumor progression and the effective immune response. METHODS: We obtained single-cell RNA sequencing data of 26,496 cells from three tumor tissues and five normal tissues and performed subsequent analyses. Immunohistochemical staining on tumor sections was used to validate the presence of malignant cells. Additionally, we included bulk RNA sequencing data from 502 HNSCC patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test were employed to assess predictors of patient outcomes. RESULTS: We identified three epithelial subclusters exhibiting immune-related features. These subclusters promoted the infiltration of T cells, dendritic cells, and monocytes into the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, cancer-associated fibroblasts displayed tumor-promoting and angiogenesis characteristics, contrasting with the predominant antigen-presenting and inflammatory roles observed in fibroblasts from normal tissues. Furthermore, tumor endothelial subsets exhibited a double-sided effect, promoting tumor progression and enhancing the effectiveness of immune response. Finally, follicular helper T cells and T helper 17 cells were found to be significantly correlated with improved outcomes in HNSCC patients. These CD4+ T cell subpopulations could promote the anti-tumor immune response by recruiting and activating B and T cells. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide deeper insights into the immune features of the tumor ecosystem and reveal the prognostic significance of follicular helper T cells and T helper 17 cells. These findings may pave the way for the development of therapeutic approaches.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor , Análisis de Expresión Génica de una Sola Célula , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello , Células Th17 , Microambiente Tumoral , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor/inmunología , Pronóstico , RNA-Seq/métodos , Análisis de Expresión Génica de una Sola Célula/métodos , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Células T Auxiliares Foliculares/inmunología , Células Th17/inmunología , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: HHLA2 (human endogenous retrovirus-H long terminal repeat-associating protein 2) represents a recently identified member of the B7 immune checkpoint family, characterized by limited expression in normal tissues but notable overexpression in various cancer types. Nevertheless, the precise function and interaction with immune cells remain poorly understood, particularly in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). This investigation endeavored to elucidate the biological significance of HHLA2 within the tumor microenvironment of human LSCC tissues and delineate the clinical relevance and functional roles of HHLA2 in LSCC pathogenesis. METHODS: Through multiplexed immunohistochemistry analyses conducted on tissue microarrays sourced from LSCC patients (n = 72), the analysis was executed to assess the expression levels of HHLA2, density and spatial patterns of CD68+HLA-DR+CD163- (M1 macrophages), CTLA-4+CD4+FoxP3+ (CTLA-4+Treg cells), CTLA-4+CD4+FoxP3- (CTLA-4+Tcon cells), exhausted CD8+T cells, and terminally exhausted CD8+T cells in LSCC tissues. Survival analysis was conducted to evaluate the prognostic significance of HHLA2 and these immune checkpoints or immune cell populations, employing COX regression analysis to identify independent prognostic factors. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curves revealed a significant association between HHLA2 expression and overall survival (OS) in LSCC. Elevated levels of HHLA2 were linked to reduced patient survival, indicating its potential as a prognostic marker (HR: 3.230, 95%CI 0.9205-11.34, P = 0.0067). Notably, increased infiltration of CD68+ cells (total macrophages), STING+CD68+HLA-DR+CD163- (STING+M1 macrophages), CTLA-4+CD4+FoxP3+, CTLA-4+CD4+FoxP3-, PD-1+LAG-3+CD8+T cells, and PD-1+LAG-3+TIM-3+CD8+T cells strongly linked to poorer survival outcomes (P < 0.05). A discernible trend was observed between the levels of these immune cell populations, STING+CD68+ (STING+ total macrophages), CD68+HLA-DR+CD163-, STING+CD68+CD163+HLA-DR- (STING+M2 macrophages), PD-1+LAG-3-CD8+T cells, PD-1+TIM-3+CD8+T cells, and PD-1+LAG-3+TIM-3-CD8+T cells and prognosis. Importantly, multivariate COX analysis identified HHLA2 as an independent predictive factor for OS in LSCC patients (HR = 3.86, 95% CI 1.08-13.80, P = 0.038). This underscored the potential of HHLA2 as a critical marker for predicting patient outcomes in LSCC. CONCLUSIONS: HHLA2 emerged as a detrimental prognostic biomarker for assessing OS in LSCC patients. Relative to other immune checkpoints, HHLA2 exhibited heightened predictive efficacy for the prognosis of LSCC patients.
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Biomarcadores de Tumor , Neoplasias Laríngeas , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor , Microambiente Tumoral , Anciano , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Biomarcadores de Tumor/metabolismo , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/mortalidad , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/patología , Inmunoglobulinas , Neoplasias Laríngeas/inmunología , Neoplasias Laríngeas/mortalidad , Neoplasias Laríngeas/patología , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor/inmunología , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor/metabolismo , Pronóstico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/mortalidad , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/patologíaRESUMEN
The combination of radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade can result in poor outcomes in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Here, we show that combining ATR inhibition (ATRi) with radiotherapy (RT) increases the frequency of activated NKG2A+PD-1+ T cells in animal models of HNSCC. Compared with the ATRi/RT treatment regimen alone, the addition of simultaneous NKG2A and PD-L1 blockade to ATRi/RT, in the adjuvant, post-radiotherapy setting induces a robust antitumour response driven by higher infiltration and activation of cytotoxic T cells in the tumour microenvironment. The efficacy of this combination relies on CD40/CD40L costimulation and infiltration of activated, proliferating memory CD8+ and CD4+ T cells with persistent or new T cell receptor (TCR) signalling, respectively. We also observe increased richness in the TCR repertoire and emergence of numerous and large TCR clonotypes that cluster based on antigen specificity in response to NKG2A/PD-L1/ATRi/RT. Collectively, our data point towards potential combination approaches for the treatment of HNSCC.
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Proteínas de la Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutada , Antígeno B7-H1 , Inmunoterapia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello , Microambiente Tumoral , Animales , Femenino , Humanos , Ratones , Proteínas de la Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutada/metabolismo , Proteínas de la Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutada/antagonistas & inhibidores , Antígeno B7-H1/antagonistas & inhibidores , Antígeno B7-H1/metabolismo , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/inmunología , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/efectos de la radiación , Antígenos CD40/metabolismo , Antígenos CD40/inmunología , Antígenos CD40/antagonistas & inhibidores , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/inmunología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/terapia , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/radioterapia , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/farmacología , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/uso terapéutico , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Subfamília C de Receptores Similares a Lectina de Células NK/metabolismo , Receptor de Muerte Celular Programada 1/antagonistas & inhibidores , Receptor de Muerte Celular Programada 1/metabolismo , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/radioterapia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/terapia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Linfocitos T Citotóxicos/inmunología , Microambiente Tumoral/efectos de la radiaciónRESUMEN
BACKGROUND/AIM: Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a recently developed cancer treatment modality that selectively kills cancer cells and may induce a therapeutic host immune response. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of combining NIR-PIT with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy for unresectable recurrent head and neck cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five patients underwent NIR-PIT at Ryukyu University Hospital between January 2022 and April 2024. These patients had unresectable recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Among these five patients, four received a combination NIR-PIT and pembrolizumab administration. RESULTS: A total of seven lesions in the oropharynx and oral cavity were targeted. One patient was treated for three different target lesions. The best observed response (BOR) rate was 100%, with three complete responses and four partial responses. The most common treatment-related adverse event was Grade 1 or 2 local pain lasting one to two days postoperatively, which occurred in all patients. Grade 3 adverse events occurred in three cases (42.9%), including pneumonia, pharynx-cutaneous fistula, and trismus. Three patients received ICI therapy following NIR-PIT, achieving a 60% BOR rate. No immune-related adverse events were noted, and the aforementioned Grade 3 adverse events did not worsen during ICI therapy. At a median follow-up of 376 days (range=157-845 days), four target lesions showed no recurrence, while three had recurred. All five patients were alive, including three with no evidence of disease. CONCLUSION: The combination of NIR-PIT and ICI therapy for unresectable recurrent head and neck cancer was feasible.
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Estudios de Factibilidad , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico , Inmunoterapia , Humanos , Masculino , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/uso terapéutico , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/efectos adversos , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/terapia , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Anciano , Persona de Mediana Edad , Femenino , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/terapia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Terapia Combinada , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/terapia , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/patología , Fototerapia/métodos , Resultado del Tratamiento , Anticuerpos Monoclonales Humanizados/uso terapéutico , Anticuerpos Monoclonales Humanizados/efectos adversosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND/AIM: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are the standard treatment for advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is clinically assessed before initiating ICIs; however, there are no established biomarkers for predicting the response to immunotherapy. In this study, inflammatory and nutritional parameters were examined to determine the therapeutic outcomes of ICIs for HNSCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients with metastatic or recurrent HNSCC who received programmed death-1 (PD-1) blockade were enrolled. Inflammatory and nutritional indices were correlated with patient outcomes, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI). RESULTS: Patients aged <70 years were significantly associated with a high NLR, whereas those with a performance status of 2 or 3 were closely related to a high NLR, high SII, and low PNI. Although all patients achieved an objective response rate of 24.6% and a disease control rate of 36.9%, the NLR, PLR, SII, and PNI values were not significantly different between responders and non-responders. Univariate analysis showed that the NLR, PLR, SII, and PNI were significant predictors of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis identified PNI as an independent predictor of PFS and OS. CONCLUSION: PNI, as a nutritional marker, was identified as a significant predictor of outcomes following PD-1 blockade administration in patients with advanced HNSCC, compared to inflammatory markers, such as NLR, PLR, and SII.
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Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Inmunoterapia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/terapia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/mortalidad , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/terapia , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/sangre , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Adulto , Neutrófilos/inmunología , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Biomarcadores de Tumor/sangre , Pronóstico , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/uso terapéutico , Linfocitos/inmunología , Evaluación Nutricional , Estado NutricionalRESUMEN
Enoblituzumab, an immunotherapeutic agent targeting CD276, shows both safety and efficacy in activating T cells and oligodendrocyte-like cells against various cancers. Preclinical studies and mouse models suggest that therapies targeting CD276 may outperform PD1/PD-L1 blockade. However, data from mouse models indicate a significant non-responsive population to anti-CD276 treatment, with the mechanisms of resistance still unclear. In this study, we evaluate the activity of anti-CD276 antibodies in a chemically-induced murine model of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Using models of induced and orthotopic carcinogenesis, we identify ITGB6 as a key gene mediating differential responses to anti-CD276 treatment. Through single-cell RNA sequencing and gene-knockout mouse models, we find that ITGB6 regulates the expression of the tumor-associated chemokine CX3CL1, which recruits and activates PF4+ macrophages that express high levels of CX3CR1. Inhibition of the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 axis suppresses the infiltration and secretion of CXCL16 by PF4+ macrophages, thereby reinvigorating cytotoxic CXCR6+ CD8+ T cells and enhancing sensitivity to anti-CD276 treatment. Further investigations demonstrate that inhibiting ITGB6 restores sensitivity to PD1 antibodies in mice resistant to anti-PD1 treatment. In summary, our research reveals a resistance mechanism associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and identifies potential targets to overcome resistance in cancer treatment.
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Antígenos B7 , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Ratones Noqueados , Animales , Ratones , Antígenos B7/metabolismo , Antígenos B7/genética , Antígenos B7/antagonistas & inhibidores , Humanos , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Receptor 1 de Quimiocinas CX3C/metabolismo , Receptor 1 de Quimiocinas CX3C/genética , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos/genética , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos/efectos de los fármacos , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos/inmunología , Macrófagos/inmunología , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Línea Celular Tumoral , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/patología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/metabolismo , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Femenino , Antineoplásicos Inmunológicos/farmacología , Antineoplásicos Inmunológicos/uso terapéutico , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence has shown that hypoxia is a biomarker of tumor proliferation and metastasis. This research aimed to identify a hypoxia-associated gene prognostic index (HAGPI) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and based on HAGPI-defined subgroups to predict prognosis and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors therapy. METHODS: RNA-sequencing transcriptomic data for patients with HNSCC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Protein-protein interaction network analysis was performed to select hypoxia-related hub genes. Univariate and multivariate cox regression analyses were used to identify hub genes to develop the HAGPI. Afterward expression data were imported into CIBERSORT to evaluate the relative proportion of 22 immune cells and compared the relative proportions of immune cells between the 2 HAGPI subgroups. The relationship between immunopheno score (IPS) and HAGPI was validated for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) response in TCGA cohorts. RESULTS: The HAGPI was constructed based on HS3ST1, HK1, PGK1, STC2, SERPINE1, PKLR genes. In high-HAGPI patients, the primary and secondary endpoint events in TCGA and GEO cohorts were significantly lower than low-HAGPI groups (Pâ <â .05). HAGPI-high patients exhibited a poorer prognosis than HAGPI-low patients did. The abundance of M2 macrophages and NK cell were significantly enhanced in the high-HAGPI while T cells regulatory and T cells CD8, were markedly elevated in the low-HAGPI. Meanwhile, patients in the low-HAGPI patients had higher levels of immunosuppressant expression and less aggressive phenotypes. Furthermore, IPS analysis showed that the low-HAGPI group with higher IPS represented a more immunogenic phenotype. CONCLUSION: The current study developed and verified a HAPGI model that can be considered as an independent prognostic biomarker and elucidated the tumor immune microenvironment of HNSCC.
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Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello , Humanos , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/mortalidad , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/uso terapéutico , Masculino , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/mortalidad , Pronóstico , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Biomarcadores de Tumor/genética , Medición de Riesgo/métodos , Mapas de Interacción de Proteínas/genética , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología , Microambiente Tumoral/genética , Transcriptoma , Hipoxia , AncianoRESUMEN
Background: In view of improving biomarkers predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC), this multicenter retrospective study aimed to identify clinical, tumor microenvironmental, and genomic factors that are related to therapeutic response to the anti- Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody, nivolumab, in patients with R/M HNSCC. Methods: The study compared 53 responders and 47 non-responders, analyzing formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples using 14-marker multiplex immunohistochemistry and targeted gene sequencing. Results: Of 100 patients included, responders had significantly lower smoking and alcohol index, higher incidence of immune related adverse events, and higher PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) expression in immune cells as well as PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) than non-responders. The frequency of natural killer cells was associated with nivolumab response in patients with prior cetuximab use, but not in cetuximab-naïve status. Age-stratified analysis showed nivolumab response was linked to high CPS and lymphoid-inflamed profiles in patients aged ≥ 65. In contrast, lower NLR in peripheral blood counts was associated with response in patients aged < 65. Notably, TP53 mutation-positive group had lower CPS and T cell densities, suggesting an immune-excluded microenvironment. Patients with altered tumor suppressor gene pathways, including TP53, CDKN2A, and SMAD4 mutations, had lower CPS, higher smoking index, and were associated with poor responses. Conclusion: Nivolumab treatment efficacy in HNSCC is influenced by a combination of clinical factors, age, prior treatment, immune environmental characteristics, and gene mutation profiles.
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Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Nivolumab , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello , Microambiente Tumoral , Humanos , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología , Nivolumab/uso terapéutico , Nivolumab/efectos adversos , Masculino , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Femenino , Anciano , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/inmunología , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello/genética , Estudios Retrospectivos , Biomarcadores de Tumor/genética , Antineoplásicos Inmunológicos/uso terapéutico , Antineoplásicos Inmunológicos/efectos adversos , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/uso terapéutico , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/efectos adversos , Resultado del Tratamiento , Adulto , Antígeno B7-H1/genética , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Mutación , Genómica/métodosRESUMEN
Introduction: The human leukocyte antigen complex (HLA) is essential for inducing specific immune responses to cancer by presenting tumor-associated peptides (TAP) to T cells. Overexpressed tumor associated antigens, mainly cancer-testis antigens (CTA), are outlined as essential targets for immunotherapy in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). This study assessed the degree to which presentation, gene expression, and antibody response (AR) of TAP, mainly CTA, are correlated in OPSCC patients to evaluate their potential as immunotherapy targets. Materials and methods: Snap-frozen tumor (NLigand/RNA=40), healthy mucosa (NRNA=6), and healthy tonsils (NLigand=5) samples were obtained. RNA-Seq was performed using Illumina HiSeq 2500/NovaSeq 6000 and whole exome sequencing (WES) utilizing NextSeq500. HLA ligands were isolated from tumor tissue using immunoaffinity purification, UHPLC, and analyzed by tandem MS. Antibodies were measured in serum (NAb=27) utilizing the KREX™ CT262 protein array. Data analysis focused on 312 proteins (KREX™ CT262 panel + overexpressed self-proteins). Results: 183 and 94 of HLA class I and II TAP were identified by comparative profiling with healthy tonsils. Genes from 26 TAP were overexpressed in tumors compared to healthy mucosa (LFC>1; FDR<0.05). Low concordance (r=0.25; p<0.0001) was found between upregulated mRNA and class I TAP. The specific mode of correlation of TAP was found to be dependent on clinical parameters. A lack of correlation was observed both between mRNA and class II TAP, as well as between class II tumor-unique TAP (TAP-U) presentation and antibody response (AR) levels. Discussion: This study demonstrates that focusing exclusively on gene transcript levels fails to capture the full extent of TAP presentation in OPSCC. Furthermore, our findings reveal that although CTA are presented at relatively low levels, a few CTA TAP-U show potential as targets for immunotherapy.